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Needmore residents press Swain County to challenge Duke Energy transmission route
Summary
Residents from the Needmore community told the Swain County Board of Commissioners that a proposed Duke Energy transmission line would cut through their homes, cemeteries and churches and urged the county to demand the company share route plans and selection criteria; the board agreed to ask Duke to present maps and meet with the community.
Several Needmore residents said the transmission-line route proposed by Duke Energy would cut across farmland and yards and harm tourism and property values, and they urged the Swain County Board of Commissioners to press the company for alternatives.
"We don't want this up there," said a resident identified as Mary, describing a path that would run up Mill Road and across the Little Tennessee River and that she said would affect about "45 families." Cheryl Taylor, who said she lives in the Needmore Springs community, told the board Duke chose "the cheapest and easiest but the most impactful route" and that residents had met with Duke representatives who offered little concrete information.
The comments came during the meeting's public-comment period. Residents said Duke held earlier community meetings outside Needmore, did not notify many directly impacted landowners, and refused to share the evaluation report or selection criteria it used to favor one route. One speaker said Duke's public meeting was held in a different town and that "most of us didn't have any clue this was even being discussed."
Commissioners responded by directing the county manager to contact Duke Energy for a presentation to the board and for the company to provide the three route options and the report or criteria it used. "I think it would behoove us to maybe have our county manager reach out to a representative ... to have them come and speak to us and us just kind of talk with them about our concerns and about the concerns of our community members," the board chair said. Commissioners also discussed holding a meeting in Needmore so residents could ask questions directly.
Why it matters: Residents said the route would pass near two churches, family cemeteries and a scenic corridor that supports local tourism. They flagged potential long-term effects on property values and family plans tied to generational land ownership.
What happens next: The board agreed to ask Duke to present its route maps and selection criteria and to schedule a discussion with county officials and impacted residents. The county manager said he would provide contact information and coordinate the meeting.
Attribution: Quotes and characterizations in this article come from public commenters present during the June 16, 2026 Swain County Board of Commissioners meeting and statements by the board as recorded in the meeting transcript.
